Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
[[Image:Audubons_Shearwater.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Glen Tepke<br/>Location: Atlantic Ocean, near Hydrographer Canyon, south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA]] | [[Image:Audubons_Shearwater.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Glen Tepke<br/>Location: Atlantic Ocean, near Hydrographer Canyon, south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
+ | 30 cm. Black brown upperparts, undersides of the tail and flight feathers, the rest of the underparts, cheeks and throat are white. | ||
+ | |||
===Similar Species=== | ===Similar Species=== | ||
[[Manx Shearwater]] is slightly larger with longer more-pointed wings, and white undertail coverts.<br /> | [[Manx Shearwater]] is slightly larger with longer more-pointed wings, and white undertail coverts.<br /> | ||
Line 10: | Line 12: | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Mostly tropical, with the [[Caribbean]], eastern Pacific, and Indian Ocean as main breeding grounds. All breeding grounds are islands. Subspecies ''subalaris'' breeds in the [[Galapagos]] Islands, and ''bannermani'' breeds off [[Japan]]. | Mostly tropical, with the [[Caribbean]], eastern Pacific, and Indian Ocean as main breeding grounds. All breeding grounds are islands. Subspecies ''subalaris'' breeds in the [[Galapagos]] Islands, and ''bannermani'' breeds off [[Japan]]. | ||
+ | |||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
[[Heinroth's Shearwater]] and [[Persian Shearwater]] have been split from Audubon's Shearwater. | [[Heinroth's Shearwater]] and [[Persian Shearwater]] have been split from Audubon's Shearwater. | ||
Line 23: | Line 26: | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
+ | Tropical waters. | ||
+ | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
+ | It is colonial, nesting in small burrows and crevices in rocks. 1 egg is laid and incubated by both parents for 50; the young fledge 70 days later. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The diet includes small fish, squid and crustaceans. | ||
+ | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Puffinus+lherminieri}} | {{GSearch|Puffinus+lherminieri}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Puffinus]] | |
− | |||
− | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Puffinus |
Revision as of 15:06, 16 October 2008
Includes Galapagos Shearwater; Bannerman's Shearwater
- Puffinus lherminieri
Identification
30 cm. Black brown upperparts, undersides of the tail and flight feathers, the rest of the underparts, cheeks and throat are white.
Similar Species
Manx Shearwater is slightly larger with longer more-pointed wings, and white undertail coverts.
Cory's Shearwater is much larger with much lighter brown body and wings, heavy yellow bill and white tail band.
Great Shearwater is much larger with lighter body, smudgy brown belly, neat cap, narrow pointed wings. and white tail band.
Distribution
Mostly tropical, with the Caribbean, eastern Pacific, and Indian Ocean as main breeding grounds. All breeding grounds are islands. Subspecies subalaris breeds in the Galapagos Islands, and bannermani breeds off Japan.
Taxonomy
Heinroth's Shearwater and Persian Shearwater have been split from Audubon's Shearwater.
Subspecies
Audubon's Shearwater currently has a total of 9 subspecies. Two of these are treated in detail below, the rest are: lherminieri, loyemilleri, dichrous, gunax, bailloni, nicolae, and temptator (colstoni recognized by some authorities).
Status of Galapagos Shearwater subalaris
According to Boegh (2007), the Galapagos Shearwater (P. l. subalaris) is "now known to differ strikingly both in DNA (with high support), physiology and voice from the members of the Audubon's/Little complex. Indeed, they're not even the closest relatives of the Galapagos Shearwater, which actually is closer to the Christmas Shearwater." SACC (2008) treats subalaris as a full species, citing the genetic data of Austin et al (2004) and long-ago noted morphological distinctiveness by Murphy (1927). However, Clements 6th edition (2007) and Howard & Moore (2003) retain it as a subspecies of lherminieri, and the Opus follows in this consensus.
Status of Bannerman's Shearwater bannermani
Austin et al (2004) treat bannermani as a full species based on molecular phylogeny, and are followed by Onley & Scofield (2007). Sibley & Monroe (1996) also grant it species status. However, Clements 6th edition (2007) and Howard & Moore (2003) retain it as a subspecies of lherminieri, and the Opus follows in this consensus.
Mascarene Shearwater, Puffinus atrodorsalis
Invalid taxon. Believed to have been a juvenile P. l. bailloni (Austin et al., 2004).
Habitat
Tropical waters.
Behaviour
It is colonial, nesting in small burrows and crevices in rocks. 1 egg is laid and incubated by both parents for 50; the young fledge 70 days later.
The diet includes small fish, squid and crustaceans.